Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

The attitudes of Sri Lankans have to change.

Respect each other, their religions, the languages and their differences to achieve something that our neighbours have done, purely by harnessing the differences in the different people.

Thinking

I don't have to LIE!! and I don't!! if i quote something which does not make sense it is not cos I am LYING!!

I lived my life talking the TRUTH and doing the right thing and That is why my family and I are blessed..

I don't complain..but if you accuse me of lying..it is a CHEAp SHOT my friend..did not expect that from u

Overworked man drank poison, court told

October 11, 2007 06:23pm

A YOUNG Indian cook's assistant became so depressed after being forced to work 14-hour days for six weeks straight that he swallowed poison, a Sydney court has been told.

Anbalagan Rajendran, 24, was brought from India to Australia in June 2006 by Yogalingam Rasalingam to work in Indian restaurants in and around the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

Mr Anbalagan told the District Court in Sydney today he felt 'so odd' at being separated from his family in India he drank the contents of a bottle marked 'poison'.

'I took it and as a result I vomited,' Mr Anbalagan said.

Speaking through a Tamil interpreter, Mr Anbalagan said he worked from 9.30am to 11pm every day from June 1 through to July 13 in Mr Rasalingam's restaurants at Faulconbridge, Glenbrook and Richmond.

His duties included food preparation, washing dishes and loading supplies, with a lunch break of 'sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes half an hour'.

The only day he finished early was when he swallowed the poison, the court heard.

Mr Rasalingam, 44, of Faulconbridge, has pleaded not guilty to bringing Mr Anbalagan to Australia with recklessness toward his potential exploitation.

He also has pleaded not guilty to dishonestly influencing an immigration official.

Mr Anbalagan said he spoke to his mother in India twice during his first week in Australia, but Mr Rasalingam, at whose house he was staying, then forbade him to use the phone without permission.

He said Mr Rasalingam had told him a five-minute phone call would result in a 'big bill' before locking the phone away.

Mr Rasalingam had also told him about a friend who had brought a worker to Australia but sent him back when the worker tried to move to a better-paid job.

Mr Anbalagan said he thought that could happen to him if he left.

'I might have to go back to India - I had some concern,' he said.

Mr Anbalagan was worried because Mr Rasalingam sponsored him to come to Australia and had taken his passport.

'I didn't have the original but I did have a copy,' he said.

Mr Rasalingam also told Mr Anbalagan not to go out to clubs after work and gave him just $20 cash during the six weeks he worked at the restaurants, the court was told.

Mr Anbalagan said he had to ask his boss to buy him soap and socks.

Ayyo... Janagen ahala wedeka neha.... he knows nothing,

Ceylon Workers Congress leader Arumugam Thondaman and four CWC members have rejoined Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa's cabinet Thursday morning. Mr. Thondaman and the other CWC members had resigned from Rajapaksa's cabinet in August after being insulted by Basil Rajapaksa, the brother of Sri Lankan president, using a racial slur.

sarcasm and lying are two entirely different things! *wink*

well..u don't believe i was sarcastic so you feel i was lying..

U know it..my reply stands!!